Alter Ergo
Alter Ergo is an international consulting firm that supports establishments with their cross-border business initiatives in general and with the European Union in particular. We help companies gain a foothold in the European market and identify the more lucrative overseas markets for EU businesses and how to exploit them profitably.
We are a Greek-centric organisation not only because we are based in Athens, but because Greece is one of the more convenient and cost-effective gateways to the European market. Furthermore, the country boasts an outstanding logistics infrastructure by sea, air and road. By European standards, the country’s wages are low, matched by a modest cost of living.
Alter Ergo’s consultants are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in international business advisory services.
Services
Market Entry Support
Company Formation in Europe
Import/Export Representation
Alter Ergo engages in the import and export of goods on an agency basis, especially with regions outside the EU such as the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. In doing so it relies on its extensive network of manufacturers and B2B buyers. READ MORE >>
Real Estate Investment Service
If you are considering investing in real estate in Greece – be it commercial or residential – we can help you find the right property at the right price. Alter Ergo has a separate real estate division with an extensive and up to date portfolio of properties. Our pritzable consultant will be delighted to host you in Greece for a viewing tour. READ MORE >>
Greece: Gateway to the European Union
Member of EU/Eurozone
Greece was the tenth country to join the European Union 42 years ago and is an established and fully-fledged member of the Schengen Area and Eurozone.
The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals who stay in the area legally. Free movement means individuals can travel, work and live in the area without special formalities and being subject to border checks. Currently the Schengen area consists of 26 European countries of which 22 are EU states.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Greece is relatively low. For example, 37% lower compared with Germany. Greece is the most cost-effective EU country to establish a private-limited company with relaxed regulations. The process is fast and does not require the presence of the entrepreneur.
Taxation
Corporate tax in Greece is 22%, which is in line with the average in the EU (21.3%). Sales tax – VAT – (24%) is a little higher compared with the average in the EU (20.8%), but of course your customers pay this not you.
Personal income tax applies to anyone earning an income in Greece. The top tier for income tax is 44% on an annual income above €40,000. This is lower than taxation in most countries that joined the EU before Greece’s accession to the union, such as Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Real Estate
Among the EU countries, Athens in Greece features as one of the cheaper capitals to buy a residential apartment, slightly above the former Eastern Bloc countries of Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania. This is the reason for Greece being one of the more popular countries to obtain the so-called “Golden Visa”.
The “Golden Visa” is an arrangement whereby non-EU citizens receive a 5-year residence visa to live and work in a EU country within the Schengen area. Within this region, they can move freely. To qualify for this visa in Greece, applicants must buy real estate – residential or commercial – of a current minimum value of 250,000 Euros. This is the lowest investment level for a Golden Visa in the Schengen area. The 5-year residence visa is renewable ad infinitum so long as the holder owns the property.\\
Despite a slowdown in European markets and a decrease in trading volume in most of them, investments in commercial real estate in the Greece reached a record 1.65 billion euros in 2022, marking a 40% increase compared to 2021.